Fire escape cage



Oct. 25, 1960 E. J. BROWN 2,957,540

FIRE ESCAPE CAGE Filed Oct. 30, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Elmer J Brown 1 N VEN TOR.

BY ym,

Oct. 25, 1960 E. J. BROWN 2,957,540

FIRE ESCAPE CAGE Filed Oct. 50, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.2

3a Elmer J. Brown INVENTOR.

BY Wynn 3m Un t St w Pat flm i c 2,957,540 Patented oct. 25,19 9

2,957,540 FIRE ESCAPE CAGE Elmer J. Brown, 423 N. th St., Bismarck, N. Dak.

Filed Oct. 30, 1951, Set. No. 693,413 i 3 Claims. 01. 182-113) The present invention generally relates to a rescue device and more specifically to a fire escape cage providing novel structure. and improved results therein.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a new rescue device in the form of a fire escape cage which is adapted to be raised to the window of a burning building for the purpose of liberating persons and property from within.

Furthermore, it is an object of this invention to provide a portable and collapsible fire escape cage which is light, strong and quickly and easily assembled.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide a fire escape cage which contains the novel feature of having a pivotally connected wall which is adapted to be swung inside the window of a burning building to allow easy entrance to the cage.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the cage in assembled condition, the upper ends of the chains being broken away. An insert to Figure 1 shows the terminating portions of the chains attached to a ring;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the cage in unfolded condition;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the floor and the four walls;

Figure 4 is a sectional view through plane 4-4 of Figure 3 showing details of detachable cooperating means between the floor and wall of the cage;

Figure 5 is a sectional view through plane 5-5 of Figme 3 showing details of pivotal connecting means between the fioor and wall of the cage;

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the cage in folded condition;

Figure 7 illustrate the cage in use wherein a pivotally connected cage wall is shown in open, position within a building.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, it will be seen that the numeral 10 generally designates the cage of the invention having four walls shown as 12, 14, 16 and 18 and a bottom plate 20. Each wall is illustrated as being of screen material having a pipe frame 21 and the bottom plate of any solid material strong enough to sustain the weight of several persons. As clearly shown in Figure 2, the walls are series and pivotally connected at connections 22, 2-4 and 26. The plate 20 is pivotally connected to the wall 14 at 28.

The vertical pipes of frames 21 are extended above the wall as at 30 where they terminate in chains 32. The four chains converge towards a common point and are attached to respective legs 35 of a ring member 34.

It will be noted that detachable locking means are shown existing between walls 12 and 18, the two walls not permanently joined at both their ends. Pivotal members 36 are pivotally attached to the pipe frame 21 of wall 18 and contain a U-shaped recess therein which cooperates with projection 37 on the pipe frame of wall 12 to keep wall 12 in properposition. Detachable means also exist on plate 20. These means are generally designated as 38 as shown in section in Figure 4. A rivet or bolt 40 rotationally holds tab means 42. A semi-circular member 44 overlies pipe 46 and is permanently held'in place by an extension plus a bolt 48. The construction and operation of these detachable fmeans sho'uld now be apparent. Tab means 42 rotates about the axis of bolt 40 and when an alignment with 44 will maintain the bot"- tom plate member in the position shown in Figure 1'. When member 42 is rotated 180 from the position shown in Figure 4, there will be nothing to prevent the operator of the cage from rotating the bottom plate around hinge connection 28 to bring it in close relation with wall 14. p

Afiixed to the bottom of plate 20 are two pairs of eye members 21. Rotatably and slidablysupported by said eye members 21 is an anchor 23 which contains an anchoring portion and a body portion 27. Fixedly mounted on said body portion 27 is a spring 29 which biases said anchor 23 to a closed position as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. I

Figure 5 is self-explanatory, showing a rivet or bolt 50 holding extension means of a collar 52 which fits around the bottom pipe of wall 14 in pivotal relationship.

Figure 6 shows the device'in its folded form wherebyit may be easily transported by a fire engine or car. The device when folded in the position of that of Figure 6 is only about five inches thick. When ready to be put in use the device of Figure 6 may be opened to the position shown in Figure 2. When the ring 34 is hooked onto an aerial ladder or boom, the chains 32 fall into place causing the walls to generally form the sides of a cube. The bottom plate 20 which should be held near side wall 14 when the walls are being formed at right angles, can then be lowered so that the semi-circular member 44 will engage pipe 46. If tab means 42 are then rotated into the position shown in Figure 4 the bottom plate will securely be held between wall 14 and wall 18. When wall 12 is swung into place and pivotal members 36 engaged, the device will assume the condition as shown in Figure 1. It will then be ready for use and may be utilized in the manner shown in Figure 7. It is to be noticed that an aerial ladder or boom raises the cage to a desired window, probably carrying firemen to aid any injured party. At the desired level the firemen will release pivotal members 36 and swing side wall 12 into the window as is shown in Figure 7. He will also pull the anchors 23 forward toward the window sill through eye members 21 and rotate the anchor 23 so anchor portions 25 point downwardly on the inner side of the window and hold the case in position. The wall 12, being within the window frame, helps stabilize the cage so persons and property may be liberated from the building and placed in the cage.

It should be clear from the preceding recitation that the device disclosed provides an inexpensive, reliable, and convenient rescue device.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A fire escape cage comprising four serially arranged walls pivotally connected in a straight line, a bottom plate pivotally extending from a first of said walls, detachable means carried by said bottom plate for detachably connecting said bottom plate to a second of said'walls, cooperating means terminally carr iedby the terminal Walls of said line of serially connected walls for perpendicularly retaining the Walls relative to each other, each of said walls having a pipe frame, said detachable means including an open arcuate member adapted to overlie a portion of said frame and a rotatable tab for cooperating with said member to virtually enclose said frame portion, and anchor means carried by said bottom plate, said anchor means including at least one anchor having a pair of perpendicular legs, a first of said legs resiliently slidably secured to said bottom plate, a second of said legs adapted to extend through a window for engagement With a window sill for retaining said cage proximate said window.

2. A fire escape cage comprising four serially arranged walls pivotally connected in a straight line, a bottom plate pivotally extending from a first of said walls, detachable means carried by said bottom plate for detachably connecting said bottom'plate to a second of said Walls, cooperating means terminally carried by the terminal walls of said line of serially connected walls for perpendicularly retaining the walls relative to each other, said cooperating means including a plurality of pivotal members terminally carried by a first terminal wall, said members including U-shaped recesses, projections terminally carried by a second terminal wall, said projections adapted to cooperate with said U-shaped recesses, and anchor means carried by said bottom plate, said anchor means including at least one anchor having a pair of '4 perpendicular legs, a first of said legs resiliently slidably secured to said bottom plate, a second of said legs adapted to extend through a window for engagement with a window sill for retaining said cage proximate said window.

3. A fire escape cage comprising four serially arranged walls pivotally connected in a straight line, a bottom plate pivotally extending from a first of said walls, detachable means carried by saidbottom plate for detachably connecting said bottom plate to a second of said walls, cooperating means terminally carried by the terminal walls of said line of serially connected walls for perpendicularly retaining the walls relative to each other, and anchor means carried by said bottom plate, said anchor means including at least one anchor having a pair of perpendicular legs, a first of said legs resiliently slidably secured to said bottom plate, a second of said legs adapted to extend through a window for engagement with a window sill for retaining said cage proximate said window.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 470,689 Lee Mar. 15, 1892 665,707 Tromanhauser Jan. 8, 1901 1,126,583 Sobra Jan. 26, 1915 1,593,945 Macklem July 27, 1926 2,308,608 Kennedy Jan. 19, 1943 2,483,022 ONeill Sept. 27, 1949 2,640,734 Meng June 2, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 71,979 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1916 

